Local teams harbor hoop dreams

At this time of year, there's more questions than answers floating around the local boys' basketball scene.

Can Flintridge Prep, the most successful local program last season, duplicate its CIF championship run despite losing its biggest weapon? Is this the year Crescenta Valley, with one of its strongest teams in years, will finally topple Pacific League power Pasadena? Can Renaissance Academy make it back to a CIF title game for the first time since 2007 after mounting the most consistent deep playoff runs in the area over the last decade?

Fortunately, the wait won't be much longer to begin to see how it all falls into place, as the 2011-12 season is about to tip off.

Flintridge Prep is coming off its finest season ever after beating Muir to win the CIF Southern Section Division V-AA title, but also comes back without the most dominant player in program lore, center Kenyatta Smith, who is now at Harvard University.

Still, a good number of the key players in last year's run are back, including three starters in guards Robert Cartwright, a sophomore, and senior Kory Hamane, as well as junior swingman Jedrick Eugenio.

"We're definitely going to miss Kenyatta because of everything he did," Prep Coach Garrett Ohara said of Smith, whose myriad senior honors included CIF Division V Player of the Year and All-Area Player of the Year. "But those three solid guards are back and stronger, bigger and with another year under their belts, so they're ready to go and we expect great leadership from them."

Replacing the other graduated starter, Jared Norsworthy, at power forward will be junior Chad Cosse and junior Kareem Ismail will assume duties in the middle.

"He's ready to step up as a junior and take an active role at the center position," Ohara said of the 6-foot-5 Ismail. "He's a little different player [than Smith]. He's got more of an outside, kind of a Euro big-man [game] where he can go inside, but can also shoot a decent outside shot."

Before the Rebels mount a defense of their CIF title, they will attempt to defend the Prep League crown, which they shared with Poly last year. The Panthers don't figure to be as formidable, however, having lost four starters, including Daniel Wohl and Hunter Merryman. Ohara predicts Chadwick to be tougher this season, as well as Rio Hondo Prep, which returns four starters.

"Anything can happen in [the Prep] League, but I think, on paper, we would still probably be the favorite," Ohara said.

Until someone knocks off the Pasadena Bulldogs, they would seem to be the favorite in the Pacific League, as well. But Crescenta Valley figures to be a strong contender for league with its entire starting lineup back, led by senior power forward and All-CIF pick Christian Misi.

"You hope that the experience and the fact that all these guys have been playing for two or three years on varsity should be an advantage in close games and big games," Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian said. "I've heard people say stuff about Pasadena, that they might have a down year and this or that, but they've won it the last five or six years and I think everyone in our league is always trying to knock off the beast. Hopefully, with our talent, with our experience, we can give them a little run this year.

"Until somebody takes that title away from them, they're Pacific League champions. They've been holding on for quite a while."

Rounded out by starters Cole Currie (junior) and Dylan Kilgore (senior) in the backcourt and seniors Davis Dragovich and Rudy Avila up front, the Falcons also boast an intriguing addition, as well, in 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Nick Springer, a transfer student from the Virgin Islands.

"He can handle the ball, finish around the rim," Zargarian said. "Depending on how fast he acclimates to this environment and this school, he'll be able to give us some big minutes this year."

In addition to targeting Pasadena, the Falcons figure to have their hands full often during league play with Muir returning plenty of players from its CIF runner-up squad and Burbank expected to maintain its competitive form of recent seasons.

Also in the running is Glendale, which surged back into third place in league last year after missing the playoffs the year before and has as much depth and experience as anyone, with nine seniors on the roster.

"We have to prove that that's the case," Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress said of the Nitros being ready to enter the league-title conversation. "We have to beat some people we're not supposed to beat. I think until teams prove they can beat [Pasadena and CV] those teams get the nod."

Leading the way will be senior center David Yetenikyan and senior forward Sevan Pogosyan.

"They're kind of a one-two punch for us," Snodgress said. "We expect those two kids to lead us in scoring, David, certainly, in rebounding."

Hoover will also look to duplicate what Glendale has done and get back into the playoff picture after finishing seventh last season. The senior trio of Kyle Bernardo, Chavez Hall and Nareg Essagholian will be looked to do most of the heavy lifting.

"We have to play bigger than we are, but we shoot well and play good defense," Tornadoes Coach Jack Van Patten said.

Renaissance had no trouble competing in the Harbor League last year, winning the title in its first year there after several freelance seasons, but the Wildcats have always been more oriented toward CIF goals than league championships.

With senior center Jessy Cantinol back, Renaissance will look to get over the hump after making a pair of semifinal appearances and one trip to the quarters in the last four years.

"We're better than last year because everybody kind of knows what they're doing and we added some things to the offense," Cooke said. "We got bigger and stronger than last year.

"We're just more experienced at playing together. I just like the chemistry on this team."

St. Francis plays in hands down the toughest league of any local squad, as the Mission League is stacked with giants, including Loyola, ranked 20th in the nation preseason by ESPN. Still, the Golden Knights have been an at-large playoff mainstay in recent years, partly because of the credibility Mission League membership lends and also because of their nonleague body of work. Third-year co-Coach Ray O'Brien said that will have to be the case more than ever this season.

"Our league is, maybe more so than ever before, unbelievably strong this year," O'Brien said. "Last year we won two [league] games, both against Chaminade and Chaminade has improved. Without any transfers, we expect it to pretty much be a challenge."

St. Francis has a potent senior backcourt tandem in sharpshooters Emerson Castaneda and Zack Gardea, who will be the key for the Golden Knights along with a strong team defensive effort.

"Part of how well we do is going to be how much they contribute," O'Brien said of his supporting cast, which includes less experienced seniors and new arrivals to varsity. "They are capable scorers. The question is can they pick up the kind of defensive intensity we want to bring to the game?"

Glendale Adventist Academy welcomes new Coach Marco Gupilan, who stresses the need to play aggressive press defense and an up-tempo style to make up for a lack of size on the roster led by returning guard Matt Allen.

"These kids are good kids," Gupilan said. "They've picked up my style and my plays pretty fast, so hopefully they can apply it to the game."